What Are Some of The Best Treatments for Dementia?

Having memory loss is not an uncommon occurrence in our society, but when this loss of memory is a result of dementia, the effects can be more than just inconvenient. Dementia is a growing problem in the world today. It has been estimated that at least 50 million people have been diagnosed with some form of dementia. Dementia is a condition that slowly destroys the brain. 

Dementia can be caused by a number of conditions and occurs when the brain is unable to function correctly. Dementia is a broad term for any cognitive impairment that interferes with daily life. Most commonly, it refers to a collection of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain. These disorders specifically target the brain’s ability to process information and store memories. As a result, people with dementia often can’t remember recent events, learn new information, or multitask as well as they used to. 

Symptoms of Dementia

Dementia causes symptoms that gradually get worse over time. However, dementia symptoms can also be progressive, which means they start slowly and get worse over time.  

Symptoms vary by type and severity and may include: memory loss that disrupts daily life; problems with language, judgment and reasoning; visual problems; poor coordination and balance; and personality changes. These symptoms can interfere with work, social activities, and relationships with others. They often become severe enough to require special care.

What Are Some of The Best Treatments for Dementia?

The treatment for dementia depends on the type of dementia, the severity of it, the person’s age, and other risk factors.

The treatment for dementia is complicated, but there are some things that you can do to help your brain live as long as it possibly can.  Depending on the type of dementia, there are different types of treatments. If a person has dementia caused by Alzheimer’s, there are many treatment options available in order to slow the progression of the disease. 

If a person has vascular dementia, they have very few ways to slow the disease, but can make their life easier depending on the symptoms. 

If a person has dementia caused by Huntington’s disease, there is not much that can be done.

What are the Treatments for Dementia?

Medications 

There are many medications used to treat dementia. The most common medications used to treat Alzheimer’s disease are Selegiline, Cholinesterase inhibitor (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) and Memantine. There are two main classes of medications used to treat dementia: cholinesterase inhibitors and Nootropics. These medications work to alleviate symptoms of dementia, including memory loss and confusion.

Therapy 

Many of the symptoms of dementia can also be treated with approaches without medications. A common example of this approach is the occupational therapy. An occupational therapist helps in making the home safer and teaches coping behaviors. The purpose of occupational therapy is to avoid any accidents in the place the patient lives. It helps in manage behavior and prepare one for dementia progression.

Modifying Environment 

Decreasing chaos and noise makes it easier for someone with dementia to concentrate and function. Monitoring systems to alert when a person with dementia wanders. 

Apart from the above, there are other treatments based on the seriousness of the syndrome. You can consult with your medical practitioner.